Kit for making edible toys

ABSTRACT

An assemblage of structural elements is provided for combining in one or more ways to make toys or toy-like figures that are edible. The structural elements of the assemblage include components that may be comprised of edible materials or a combination of edible and inedible materials. The components may also be in the form of general geometric shapes or preformed parts or a combination of both general geometric shapes and preformed parts. The structural elements are preferably provided in a packaging structure which facilitates transportability of the assemblage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to toys and more particularly, to a means for making an edible toy or toy-like figure comprising prepackaged edible components of various sizes and shapes or a combination of edible and non-edible components of various sizes and shapes, suitable for combining together to create edible toys or edible toy-like figures.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The concept of toys or toy-like figures which have some portion which is edible has been known for some time. Most typically, these toys or toy-like figures take the form of dolls or other figures having human or animal form molded from candy or some other edible material. These products, however, are preformed as a whole and do not allow an individual the ability to assemble his or her own toy or toy like figure in a creative manner. The current popularity of the “do-it-yourself” businesses, such as the craft industry, demonstrates the increasing popularity of products that allow a person to assemble his or her own creations.

[0005] Toys or toy-like figures that have some portion which is edible have been described in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,523 to Green discloses a decorative house, the structure of which is comprised of an edible material in combination with a metal foil material. The metal foil material serves as the mold for baking the edible material into the form of the sides and roof of the house as well as the means for fastening the house parts together. European Patent No. WO 99/34891 to Gardner discloses an edible toy accessory comprised of an edible material formed into a shape usable as an accessory with an associated stand alone toy such as a doll. U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,782 to Glynn discloses illuminable transparent figures made of edible material that can be fastened to an illuminated base. U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,974 to Davis discloses a candy covered figurine that uses Styrofoam to form the body to which colored candies are affixed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,584 to Shakespear, et. al., discloses a method of constructing an arts and crafts project consisting of cutting shapes from a preformed sheet comprised of an edible, water soluble material.

[0006] These inventions, for the most part, do not involve a prepackaged assemblage of components of various sizes and shapes, suitable for creating an edible toy or edible toy-like figure of the user's choosing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,461,543 to Pettit discloses a method whereby various candy pieces, obtained at the discretion of the user are assembled into an animate figure. Those inventions that do disclose an assemblage of components, such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,523 to Greene, involve pre-molded pans that serve as forms for baking cake or cookie dough into the form of a gingerbread house. Thus, they allow for no flexibility or imagination in assembling the edible toy or edible toy like figure. Additionally, such prior inventions are not suitable and structured for portability, such as placement in a lunch box or to amuse a child while in the car.

[0007] In light of this, it would be an improvement over the prior art to provide a prepackaged assemblage of edible components of various shapes and sizes, such as circles, rectangles, squares, etc. and/or specially formed shapes suitable for assembly into various types of toys or toy-like figures. Such an assemblage of edible components would allow the user to utilize his or her imagination in creating the toy or toy like figure using the assemblage of edible components. Additionally, a prepackaged assemblage would be particularly suitable for use in lunch boxes or for traveling to amuse children or as a prize to include in meals.

[0008] In contrast with the prior art, the present invention provides for such an assemblage of components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of components are provided in a prepackaged assemblage and are suitable for combining in a creative manner to create an edible toy or edible toy like figure. The prepackaged plurality of components can take the form of any food item, including packaged food items made in various general geometric shapes, such as saltines, round crackers, graham crackers, pretzel sticks or any number of other grain-based products. The prepackaged plurality of components may also take the form of such food items as candy, gum, dried fruit, cookies, cookie dough or any number of other conceivable items. The present invention may also include food or non-food items that are specially pre-formed to create a specific shape to which the conventional food items can be affixed to produce a specific toy shape or design, such as for example, a theme-based toy. The plurality of components is provided prepackaged in a container designed to receive the various components. The user assembles the toy figure by attaching a plurality of the components together. The components are attached using an attaching member or material. This attaching member or material may preferably be provided along with the assemblage of components and/or may be provided by the user.

[0010] In a first embodiment, the invention comprises an assemblage of edible components that are formed in basic geometric shapes such as rectangles, circles, squares, triangles, etc. These components are comprised of generally available food items such as graham crackers, life savers, pretzel sticks, etc. In this embodiment, the user combines the components to form a toy or toy-like figure of his choosing. For example, the user could combine the graham crackers to form the body of a car. Pretzel sticks could be used for the axles. Life savers could be used for the wheels. In this, and all other embodiments, the assemblage of components may preferably include fastening material or one or more fastening elements to attach the shapes to each other.

[0011] In another embodiment, the prepackaged plurality of components comprises materials that are in the form of general geometric shapes and also comprises components that are in the form of a preformed toy part that may be edible or non-edible.

[0012] In another embodiment, the prepackaged assemblage of components comprises two or more types of components, at least one of which is non-edible.

[0013] In another embodiment, the container is of suitable size and shape to fit into a lunch box or lunch sack.

[0014] In another embodiment, the prepackaged assemblage further comprises instructions for combining the various components into at least one predetermined toy or toy-like figure.

[0015] A method is described herein for the creation of an edible toy using a prepackaged assemblage of components which are of suitable size and shape for combining into the form of a toy or toy-like figure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the figures, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention:

[0017]FIG. 1 depicts an assemblage of edible components defining general geometric shapes packaged together in separate compartments;

[0018]FIG. 2 depicts an exemplar assemblage of the edible components shown in FIG. 1 assembled into the form of a biplane;

[0019]FIG. 3 depicts the top view of the biplane of FIG. 2;

[0020]FIG. 4 depicts the bottom view of the fuselage of the biplane of FIG. 2 for the purpose of illustrating the landing wheel assembly;

[0021]FIG. 5 depicts an assemblage of edible components, including a preformed fuselage, sufficient to build an edible toy airplane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022]FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment, in which various edible components 10 suitable to create a toy or toy-like figure are provided prepackaged in a container 12. The container 12 is divided into separate compartments 14. The edible components 10 are contained within the separate compartments 14, with each type of component 10 within its own compartment 14. For example, in this embodiment, pretzel sticks 16, are contained in one compartment 18. Graham crackers 20 are contained in another compartment 22. Life savers 24 are contained in another compartment 26. Cookies 28 are contained in another compartment 30. Candy bars 32 are contained in another compartment 36. Potato chips 38 are contained in another compartment 40. Corn chips 42 are contained in another compartment 44. Tortilla chips 46 are contained in another compartment 48. Marshmallows 50 are contained in another compartment 52. A fastening element 54, illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, as icing 56, is contained in another compartment 58. Round crackers 60 are contained in another compartment 62. Saltine crackers 64 are contained in another compartment 66. Instructions 68 describing one or more alternative ways in which the components may be assembled to form various toys or toy-like figures may be included as part of the packaged components and are depicted here attached to the side 70 of the container 12. The container 12 may be any appropriate size, including a size suitable for use in lunch boxes.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows, by way of example only, the materials depicted in FIG. 1 combined in the form of a biplane 72. The biplane 72 is depicted in a side view. A candy bar 32 forms the fuselage 74 of the biplane 72. A graham cracker 20 forms the bottom wing 76 of the biplane 72. The bottom wing 76 is affixed to the underside 78 of the fuselage 74 and oriented such that a flat surface of the bottom wing 76 is more or less flush with the underside 78 of the fuselage 74 with the long axis of the bottom wing 76 more or less perpendicular to the long axis of the fuselage 74. An axle support 80, illustrated here for example as a section of candy bar 32 is affixed to the underside 82 of the bottom wing 76. Lifesavers 24 serve as the landing wheels 78. The landing wheels 78 are affixed to the axle support 80 via an axle 84 (FIG. 4) formed by a pretzel stick 16 that is affixed to the underside of the axle support 80 and perpendicular to the long axis of the fuselage 74 in such a manner that the ends of the axle 84 extend beyond the lateral side 86 of the axle support 80. As illustrated more fully the landing wheels 78 are attached to the axle 84 by sliding the annulus 87 (FIG. 2) of the landing wheel 78 over the portion of the axle 84 that extends beyond the lateral side 86 of the axle support 80 so that each landing wheel 70 is more or less perpendicular to the long axis of the axle 84.

[0024] Referring again to FIG. 2, an upper wing 88 is formed by a graham cracker 20 and is supported by vertical struts 90 made from pretzel sticks 16. The upper wing 88 is oriented such that a flat surface 92 thereof is parallel with the upper flat surface 94 of the bottom wing 76 and the long axis of the upper wing 88 is parallel to the long axis of the bottom wing 76. The vertical struts 90 are oriented such that they are perpendicular to the flat surface 92 of the upper wing 88 and the upper flat surface 96 of the bottom wing 76 with one or more of such vertical struts 90 located toward the front edge 96 of the upper wing 88 and the front edge 98 of the bottom wing 76 to form a forward strut 100. One or more of such vertical struts 90 is located toward the rear edge 102 of the upper wing 88 and the rear edge 104 of the the bottom wing 76 to form a rear strut 106 and oriented such that the rear strut 106 is located more or less directly behind a forward strut 100. The upper end 108 of each vertical strut 90 is affixed to the flat surface 92 of the upper wing 88. The lower end 110 of each vertical strut 90 is affixed to the upper flat surface 94 of the bottom wing 76. Another pretzel stick 16 is affixed to the upper end 112 of each forward strut 100 and to the lower end 114 of each rear strut 106 such that said pretzel stick 16 forms a supporting strut 116 oriented more or less diagonally between the forward strut 100 and rear strut 106.

[0025] The tail rudder 118 may be formed by a round cracker 60, cut more or less in half along a line that roughly describes its diameter such that the two halves that are thus formed roughly describe a semi circle. The tail rudder 118 is comprised of one of the semicircular pieces with its flat edge 120 affixed to the upper side 122 of the fuselage 74.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the same biplane 72 depicted in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tail rudder 118 is located more or less at the midpoint between the two edges 124 of the upper side 122 of the fuselage 74 and located toward the rear 126 of the fuselage 74. The tail rudder 118 is oriented such that its flat edge is parallel with the long axis 128 of the fuselage 74. Rear stabilizers 130 may be formed by saltine crackers 64 a portion 132 of the flat side 134 of which are fastened to the upper side 122 of the fuselage 74 near the rear 126 and and oriented such that the rear stabilizers 130 are more or less parallel to the upper side 122 of the fuselage 74 and such that a substantial portion of the rear stabilizer 130 extends beyond the edge 136 of the fuselage 74.

[0027] As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper wing 88 is oriented so that its long axis 138 is more or less perpendicular to the long axis 128 of the fuselage 72 and the ends 140 of the upper wing 88 extend beyond the edge 136 of the fuselage 74 such that the short axis 142 of the upper wing 88 is parallel to and more or less in alignment with the long axis 128 of the fuselage 74.

[0028]FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the same biplane 72 depicted in FIG. 2. The landing wheels 78 are affixed to the axle support 80 via the axle 84. The axle 84 is affixed to the underside of the axle support 80 and is oriented perpendicular to the long axis 128 of the fuselage 74 in such a manner that the ends of the axle 84 extend beyond the lateral sides 86 of the axle support 80. The landing wheels 78 are attached to the axle 84 by sliding the annulus 87 (FIG. 2) of the landing wheel 78 over the portion 142 of the axle 84 that extends beyond the lateral sides 86 of the axle support 80 so that each landing wheel 78 is more or less perpendicular to the long axis 144 of the axle 84.

[0029]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which various edible components comprising preformed shapes and general geometric shapes suitable to create an edible toy, such as an airplane, are provided in a prepackaged form. The packaging comprises a container 12, divided into separate compartments 14. The edible components 10 are contained within the separate compartments 14, with each type of component 10 within its own compartment 14. For example, in this embodiment, pretzel sticks 16, are contained in one compartment 18. Graham crackers 20 are contained in another compartment 22. Life savers 24 are contained in yet another compartment 26. Icing 56 which can be used as the fastening element 54, is contained in another compartment 58. Round crackers 60 are contained in another compartment 58. Saltine crackers 64 are contained in another compartment 66. A preformed airplane fuselage 146 is contained in another compartment 148. The preformed fuselage 146 has a slot 150 in each side located toward the front of the preformed fuselage 146 which slot 150 is of suitable size and shape such that the edge of a graham cracker 20 may be inserted into it, for example, to form a wing. The preformed fuselage 146 also has an axle retainer 152 located on its underside, which axle retainer 152 possesses a notch or groove 154 on its bottom surface. The preformed fuselage has a notch or groove 156 in its upper surface 158 suitable for holding a round cracker 60 to form a rudder. The fuselage 146 possesses a notch or groove 160 in each side located near the back 162.

[0030] The present invention provides the ability to use one's imagination and creativity to combine the packaged components into various toys or toy-like figures and then eat them, or to create the toy and eat all but the inedible parts, which inedible parts can then be used again. The present invention is ideally suited for school lunches or for travel as a method to occupy and entertain children and to spark their creativity. Alternatively, the present invention provides a means for entertaining children as a type of edible craft project such as in a daycare type setting. The present invention can also be used as a prize such as those commonly included in children's fast food meals.

[0031] Reference herein to specific details of the illustrated embodiments is by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Numerous other combinations of components into toys or toy-like figures are possible. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many additions, deletions and modifications to the illustrated embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A prepackaged assemblage of edible components of various sizes and shapes suitable for creating edible toys or edible toy-like figures comprising: a container sized to receive a plurality of materials, at least one of which is edible, selected for use in assembling a toy or toy-like figure; and a plurality of variously-sized edible components suitable for combining in the form of a toy or a toy-like figure that may later be consumed.
 2. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 1 wherein at least one of said edible components is in the form of a general geometric shape and at least one of said edible components is in the form of a preformed toy part.
 3. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 1 further comprising components that are nonedible and are suitable for use in assembling together with said edible components to create a toy or toy-like object.
 4. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 1 wherein said container is of suitable size and shape to fit into a lunch box or lunch sack.
 5. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 1 wherein said container is of suitable size and shape to serve as the prize in a children's fast food meal.
 6. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 1 further comprising instructions for combining the various materials into at least one predetermined toy or toy-like figure.
 7. The prepackaged assemblage of claim 2 further comprising components that are non-edible.
 8. The prepackaged materials of claim 7 wherein said preformed toy part is nonedible.
 9. A preformed toy structural element for combining with edible components of various sizes suitable for creating edible toy or toy-like figures comprising: a preformed toy part that is configured to be combined with edible components to form a toy or a toy-like figure, said preformed toy structural element being provided in a prepackaged assemblage with edible components.
 10. The preformed toy structural element of claim 9 wherein the performed toy structural element is comprised of non-edible material.
 11. The preformed toy structural element of claim 9 wherein the preformed toy structural element is comprised of edible material.
 12. Prepackaged components for creating edible toys or edible toy like figures comprising: a plurality of preformed edible toy parts that can be assembled into the form of a toy or a toy like figure; and, a container structure having receiving areas for housing said plurality of preformed edible toy parts.
 13. The prepackaged components of claim 11 further comprising materials that are non-edible.
 14. A method for creating an edible toy or toy like figure comprising: providing a container structure having areas sized to receive edible components of various shapes and sizes suitable for combining into a toy or toy-like figure; providing a plurality of edible components of various shapes and sizes suitable for combining into a toy or toy-like figure; and combining said plurality of prepackaged edible components of various sizes and shapes such that they form a toy or a toy like figure.
 15. The method according to claim 13 above further comprising providing instructions with said container describing at least one possible toy or toy-like figure that can be created from the compoents and; creating said toy or toy-like figure in accordance with said instructions.
 16. The method according to claim 13 further comprising at least one non-edible preformed toy part combined with said edible component to form a toy or toy-like object which is substantially edible. 